Boss and skipper urge unity ahead of Hillsborough tribute

Everton and Liverpool face off at Wembley on Saturday, one day before the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy that saw 96 fans lose their lives, and both Moyes and Neville hope that the Evertonians inside Wembley will pay their respects during the minute’s silence ahead of kickoff.

Moyes told evertonfc.com: “It was a horrendous disaster which everybody was shocked by and I’m sure everybody at Everton passes on their best wishes. I’m sure on the day we’ll give everybody in the city of Liverpool who lost family the right dignity and pay tribute to them.”

Phil Neville added: “It’s massively important that Everton play their part. It’s a special time for the whole city to unite. To come together for a short period before the game is not a lot to ask. We are going to pay our respects to the Hillsborough victims and what better way to do that than the whole city being in London, 90,000 Everton and Liverpool fans in one stadium to unite.

“After that, support your team but for that time, the whole city will unite and stand together and pay our respects for what was a tragedy – not just for Liverpool FC but for the whole of the city. That is an abiding memory of mine; when Hillsborough happened it wasn’t just Liverpool FC who mourned, it was the whole city and that means Evertonians as well, so I am sure we all do it right.”